Champions League

Jose Mourinho criticised Manchester United’s starting players after their limp Champions League loss to Valencia, saying he “did not learn anything”. The 2-1 defeat saw United miss a chance to top Group H but Mourinho said it was still a “success” to finish second. United had already secured a last-16 place and made eight changes to…

Tottenham achieved “mission impossible” by qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League, according to manager Mauricio Pochettino. Lucas Moura’s 85th-minute equaliser earned a priceless point at Barcelona, as Spurs completed an unlikely turnaround in Group B having collected only one point from their first three games. They needed to match or better Inter…

PARIS (Reuters) – Paris St Germain revived their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Liverpool in Group C on Wednesday, leaving the English club’s hopes of reaching the last 16 hanging in the balance. PSG set out like a team determined finally to prove their credentials on the big European stage, and went…

Pep Guardiola says Lyon were “one of the toughest teams” Manchester City have ever faced after the teams shared a 2-2 draw in France. Lyon twice took second-half leads before City rescued a 2-2 draw which ensures qualification for the last 16 with one game to spare. The French side wasted several clear-cut chances before…

MILAN (Reuters) – Barcelona qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League on Tuesday after a compelling 1-1 draw away to Inter Milan as a late leveller from Mauro Icardi ended the Catalans’ perfect record in this season’s competition. Former Barca youth player Icardi swivelled to smash the ball into the net in the…

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Barcelona came through their first test without the injured Lionel Messi, earning a convincing 2-0 win at home to Inter Milan to take control of Champions League Group B on Wednesday. Soccer Football – Champions League – Group Stage – Group B – FC Barcelona v Inter Milan – Camp Nou, Barcelona,…

ONDON (Reuters) – Lionel Messi lifted Barcelona out of their recent malaise with a magical display as his side beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in a thrilling Champions League Group B clash at Wembley on Wednesday. Provided with the grandest of stages and 82,000 fans, the Argentine maestro responded by scoring two goals to take his…

Video assistant referees will be used in the Champions League from the 2019-20 season, Uefa has announced. VAR will also be used in the 2019 Super Cup and at Euro 2020, as well as in the Europa League from 2020-21 and the 2021 Nations League finals. The system – used at the 2018 World Cup…

Lionel Messi scored his 48th career hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven in their opening Champions League group game. Barca’s captain curled home a stunning free-kick to open the scoring before Luis Suarez’s clever 20-yard lob hit the crossbar. The impressive Ousmane Dembele spun to lose two defenders and blasted home Barcelona’s second…

Roberto Firmino’s injury-time winner gave Liverpool a dramatic victory over Paris St-Germain in their opening Champions League Group C game at Anfield. Firmino was only fit enough to be on the bench after suffering an eye injury in Liverpool’s victory at Tottenham on Saturday – but he emerged on 72 minutes to secure a win that manager…

A third UEFA club competition is set to be introduced from the 2021-22 season, the head of the association representing Europe’s biggest clubs said on Tuesday. European Club Association (ECA) chairman Andrea Agnelli told his members at a meeting in Split, Croatia, that the new event would bring the overall number of clubs involved in…

Sergio Ramos insists that Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric deserved to win the UEFA Player of the Year award ahead of those with “more marketing”, such as Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Ramos believes that Modric, who played a key role in the club’s Champions League victory, deserved the award over the Portuguese. Indeed, the midfielder’s performances…